Step switch contactor assembly



y 3, 1966 H. G. JENSEN 3,249,718

STEP SWITCH CONTACTOR ASSEMBLY Filed June 14, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HERMAN G. JENSEN Z Z-H 51- May 3, 1966 H. G. JENSEN STEP SWITCH CONTACTOR ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1963 y 3, 1966 H. G. JENSEN STEP SWITCH CONTACTOR ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 14, 1965 INVENTOR. H ERMAN C JENSEN BY duh 4,4

United States Patent 3,249,718 STEP SWITCH CONTACTGR ASSEMBLY Herman G. Jensen, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 14, 1963, Ser. No. 287,947 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-105) This invention relates to a step switch contactor assembly for use in coin responsive vending equipment and more particularly to an arrangement which provides for a free space rotation of an electrical contactor until a predetermined position is obtained, followed by a deflection of the contactor into electrical connection with suitable circuitry means in order to signal established credit values.

Electrical means for signaling credit accumulation in coin responsive vending equipment have previously been proposed in the form of a rotatable contactor having multiple contact fingers adapted to cooperate with a printed circuit contact board. A rotatable contactor is driven from a rest position of zero credit accumulation to an operative position of positive credit accumulation by relatively low powered electro-mechanical or spring release mechanisms which are actuated by a deposited coin. However, the light force available from a.

falling coin and the relatively low powered actuating arrangements have rendered such rotatable contactors commercially unfeasible by virtue of the relatively large interfacial frictional drag of the metal-tmmetal contact surfaces. between the rotating contactor and the electrical leads of the printed circuit contact board. Previous attempts .to cure this defect have centered upon arrangements for minimizing the inter-facial pressure between the rotating contactor and the board, but such attempts suffer from the defect of insufli-cient contact pressure to accurately record the electrical credit signals once the rotating contactor has been stopped at the desired positive credit accumulation position.

Moreover, rotating contactors which drag across the stationary contact board tend to roll dirt across, the contact areas, to wear excessively, and in certain instances to are and to burn.

' This invention obviates the foregoing difficulties by providing for a free space rotation of the contactor followed by an electro-mechanical actuation of the .contact-or into a deflected position of electrical connection. In .the'described embodiment, the free space rotation is achieved by aflixing a multiple finger contactor to a rotatable credit wheel which is actuated for rota-tion by suitable coin responsive escapement and ratchet means.

A pivotable crank is also carried by the credit wheel, and

the'crank is adapted upon actuation to deflect the contactor from a rotating position of spaced relationship relative to the contact board to an operative position of juxtaposed impingement whereby maximum contact pressure is achieved. Solenoid actuated lever means are provided to urge the crank upon signal into operative engagement with the contactor whereby the desired deflection is accomplished.

*It is a primary object of this invention to provide a rotating contactor step switch assembly which maximizes the normal contact force but which minimizes the trans verse rotating force as the assembly operates.

It is a related object of this invention to provide a rotating contactor step switch assembly which is rotatively operable bya relatively low powered actuating arrangement responsive to the deposit of a coin.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a step switch assembly which obviates dirt roll-up or film formation, minimizes wear, and prevents are or burn damage in the contact areas.

. These and otherobjects, advantages, and features of ice the structure shown in FIGURE 1, showing a zero credit accumulation state of no electrical contact;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear perspective view showing another portion of the structure shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing an operative credit accumulation state of electrical contact;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a similar sectional view taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a pivot crank which actuates rotating contact lingers in order to establish electrical contacts which signal the credit accumulation state.

'With reference to FIGURE 1, a conventional coin sorter assembly 2 is shown in the right hand portion thereof. The coin sorter assembly 2, which comprises a front frame 7 and a rear frame 9, is a conventional and commercially available coin rejector and credit accumulator, such as .the combined package manufactured by National Rejectors, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, model No. 115l05-MDQ slug rejector and model No. 13-01- 000 credit accumulator. The assembly 2 is schematically illustrated in the drawings and will be described in detail herein only to the extent necessary to inter-relate the functioning thereof with the arrangements and elements which constitute the subject invention. Means (not shown) are provided to mount the coin sorter assembly 2 for pivotal movement toward and away from a main frame 6 of a coin responsive vending unit which is equipped with the subject step switch contactor assembly. In FIGURE 1, the coin sorter assembly 2 is shown in an opened inoperative position pivoted away from the trace 3 so as to expose for view the components thereof which bear against the frame 3. When the coin sorter assembly 2 is pivoted inwardly toward the frame 3, a coin slot assembly '5 positioned on the frame 3 is aligned with the bottom of the coin sorter assembly 2 such that coins passing therethrough will be guided into the coin slot assembly 5 for routing to escrow, coin return, or cash box dispositions, in a conventional manner.

The mainframe 3 is provided with an opening 1-1, and a solenoid assembly 4, which is mounted on one side of the frame 3, overlaps the said opening .11 (see FIG- URES 1 and 3). A rotating cred-it wheel assembly 6 is mounted for rotation relative to the front frame 7 of the coin sorter assembly 2, in a manner hereinafter described, and the credit Wheel assembly 6 is disposed adjacent the opening 11 when the coin sorter assembly 2 is pivoted into its operative position adjacent the main frame 3 (see FIGURE 3). An electrical contact board 8 is affixed to the front frame 7 of the coin sorter assembly 2, as by the bolts 13, and the solenoid assembly 4 actuates the rotating credit wheel assembly 6 at a givenrelative disposition thereof relative to the electrical contact board 8 in order to transmit electrical signals corresponding to an accumulated credit position, in a manner hereinafter described. I

The solenoid assembly 4 comprises a U-shaped mounted bracket 10 which is affixed to the main frame 3 (see FIGURE 3). The bracket 10 receives a solenoid coil 12 which is adapted upon energization to depress a solenoid plunger 14. The solenoid coil 12 is adapted for momentary energization (by conventional circuitry means not shown) in order to effectuate momentary depression of the plunger 14, after which a return spring 16 biases the plunger 14 to its inoperative upward position, as shown in FIGURE 3. The top end of the plunger 14 is provided with a bifurcated yoke 18 which receives a pin 20 through the opposite legs thereof. The pin 20 passes through a slot provided in an arm 22 of a crank lever 21 such that depression and elevation of the solenoid plunger 14 causes a corresponding movement of the crank arm 22. The crank lever 21 also comprises a crank base 24 extending perpendicularly from the crank arm 22-; a crank flange 26 extending perpendicularly from the crank base 24 in generally parallel alignment with the crank arm 22; another crank flange 28 extending upwardly from the crank base 24 (see FIGURE 3); and a support plate 29 extending downwardly from the crank base 24 oppositely from the crank flange 28.

A support bracket 30 is mounted on the frame 3 by bolts 32 and 34. The support bracket 30 is provided with a flange 36 (see FIGURE 3) and with a'flange 38 (see FIGURE 1). A pin 40 passes through the flange 36 of the support bracket 30 and the flange 26 of the crank lever 21, on one side, and through the crank arm 22 of the crank lever 21 and the flange 38 of the support bracket 30 on the other side. In this manner, the crank 21 is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the support bracket 30 about the shaft 40. The crank 21 is normally biased by the return spring 16 to an inoperative position wherein the crank flange 28 bears against the support bracket 30.

A lever 42 is affixed to the support plate 29 by a rivet 44, and a button member 46 is affixed to the lowermost extremity of the lever 42 (see FIGURE 1). Thus, energization of the solenoid coil 12 causes pivotal movement of the crank 21 and therefore of the spring lever 42, which cooperates with the rotating credit wheel assembly 6 in a manner hereinafter described.

The rotating credit wheel assembly 6 comprises a credit wheel 50 and an auxiliary wheel 54, which wheels are interconnected by a spring 56. As best seen in FIGURES and 6, the credit wheel 50 and the auxiliary wheel 54 are independently mounted for rotation on a shaft 51 by means of a bolt 53, the head of which overlies the hollow interior of the auxiliary wheel 54 and the threaded end of which is received in an end of the shaft 51. The shaft 51 is mounted for rotation relative to the front frame 7 'of the coin sorter assembly 2, as by a suitable collar bearing member 52 (see FIGURE 1). The collar bearing member 52 is not shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 for purposes of clarity.

A ratchet wheel 57 (see FIGURES 1 and 5 is afiixed to the other end of the shaft 51 for rotation therewith. A torsion spring 59 interconnects the ratchet wheel 57 and the rear frame 9 of the coin sorter'assembly 2. An escapement pawl 49 is mounted in the coin sorter assembly 2 (by conventional means not shown) and is adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 57 in a conventional manner to retain the ratchet wheel 57 in a spring loaded position of zero credit accumulation. A deflection arm 48 extends from the escapement pawl 49 into the path of travel of a deposited coin such that the descending coin engages the arm 48 and actuates the escapement pawl 49 so that the torsion spring 59 may rotate the ratchet wheel 57 by a predetermined angular increment corresponding to the value of the coin which trips the arm 48. This degree of rotation imparted to the ratchet wheel 57 is correspondingly imparted to the credit wheel 50 via the shaft 51. In actual practice, the ratchet and escapement means for accumulating credit of deposited coins (especially of varying denominations) is relatively more complicated than the ratchet wheel 57-escapement pawl 49 arrangement shown in the drawings. For example, ratchet and 3 escapement means (not shown) are usually provided for establishing rotation of the auxiliary wheel 54. However,

the principle of operation is predicated upon the basic to a zero credit accumulation position and correspondingly to rotate the ratchet wheel 57 to the said zero credit accumulation position against the force of the torsion spring 59. The means for actuating the reset lever 58 are conventional and form no part of the subject invention as such.

A contact finger base 60 is afiixed to the credit wheel 50 by a rivet pin 47, such that the base 60 rotates with the wheel 50. The base 60, which is preferably formed of a spring-like metal, is provided with a channel ridge 62, and the ridge 62 is disposed adjacent a slot 45 provided in the credit wheel 50. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the contact finger base 60 is provided with six extending contact fingers 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, and 74. These contact fingers are adapted to cooperate with a series of electrical leads provided on the electrical contact board 8. In the described embodiment, the electrical leads comprise a series of printed leads 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 101, 102, and 104. The lead 104, which cooperates with the contact finger 74, is a common or ground lead, and the remaining leads are adapted to cooperate with the remaining contact fingers so as to signal a given credit accumulation state determined by the relative position of the contact fianger base 60 and the electrical contact board 8. Suitable circuitry means (not shown) are connected to the electrical leads in order to utilize the information established thereby in various other operations of the coin responsive vending unit.

It will be observed that the contact base 60 and its associated contact fingers are normally retained out of contact with the board 8. However, means are provided to move the contact finger base 60 toward the electrical contact board 8, upon signal, so that electrical contact can be established between the contact fingers and the electrical leads. In the described embodiment, these means comprise a pivot crank 61 which is pivotally secured to the credit wheel 50. The pivot crank 61 comprises a base 63 which has a semi-spherical hollow hub 65 centrally disposed therein. A contact leg 67 extends from the base 63 through-the slot 45 of the credit wheel 50 and is adapted to engage the channel ridge 62 of the contact finger base 60. Two parallelly extending legs 69 and 71 extend from the opposite sides of the base 63, and an integral cylinder 73 interjoins the legs 69 and 71 (see FIGURES 7 and 8). The credit wheel 50 is provided with block shoulders 75 and 76 so as to define a space 77 therebetween. Preferably, the credit wheel 50 and its associated block shoulders 75 and 76 are formed of a resilient non-slip plastic material, and a resilient tab 78, which is preferably integral with the block shoulder 75, extends partially over the space 77 in a generally oblique fashion.

In assembly, the cylinder 73 of the pivot crank 61 is urged into the space 77 by squeezing the said cylinder 73 under the tab 78 and against the force of the resilient shoulders 75 and 76. Once seated, the pivot crank 61 may be pivoted about the axis of the cylinder 73 as a fulcrum, with the resilient tab 78 normally urging the pivot crank 61 to the position shown in FIGURE 5, that is, such that the leg 67 of the pivot crank 61 is clear of the channel ridge 62 of the contact finger 'base 60. However, the pivoted disposition of the crank 61 allows for the imposition of a force thereagainst such that the leg 67 of the crank 61 may bear against the contact base 60 and deflect that member toward the contact board 8, as shown in FIGURE 6.

In operation, a coin is received in the coin sorter assembly 2 and is routed therethrough in a conventional manner. As the coin impedes against the deflector arm After a sufficient time delay, the solenoid coil 12 is momentarily energized (as by the passage of the deposited coin over a solenoid actuating switch, not shown) such that the plunger 14 is retracted against the force of the spring 16. This movement of the plunger 14 causes the crank 21 to rotate about the shaft 40 and to force the button 46 of the spring lever 42 against the hub 65 'of the pivot crank 61. Then, as shown in FIGURE 6,

the pivot crank rotates clockwise and urges the contact fingers into contiguous relationship with the leads of the board 8. A credit accumulation is then electrically signaled over the said leads. The solenoid coil 12, which as previously indicated is momentarily energized, is then de-energized and the spring 16 urges the crank 21 to its rest or inoperative position, thereby withdrawing the button 46 from contact with the hub 65. With the release of this pressure, the pivot crank 61 is retracted to its rest or inoperative position, as shown in FIGURE 5. The retraction of the pivot crank 61 is accomplished by virtue of two factors, namely, the resiliency of the tab 78 and the resiliency of the contact finger base 60 itself, both of which urge a counterclockwise rotation of the pivot crank 61 from its FIGURE 6 disposition to its FIGURE 5 disposition.

It should be apparent that the foregoing operation provides for the imposition of normal contact forces which are far in excess of the transverse forces utilized to rotate the contact fingers, since the contact fingers are maintained clear of any interfacial frictional drag while rotating.

It should be understood that various changes, alterations, and modifications may be effected in the details of construction and arrangements for the various elements,

without departing from the spirit and the scope of the 1. A step switch contactor assembly for use in coin responsive vending equipment, which comprises:

aframe;

a shaft journaled for rotation relative to the frame;

a contact board affixed to the frame and having electrical lead mean-s thereon;

contactor means aflixed to the shaft for'rotation therewith and normally retained in spaced relationto the contact board;

ratchet wheel means affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith;

escapement pawl means associated with the ratchet wheel means for normally impeding the rotation thereof and for allowing a predetermined increment of rotation thereof upon actuation;

coin responsive means for actuating the escapement pawl means;

crank means for deflecting the contactor means upon actuation into engagement with the electrical lead means of the contact board; and

solenoid means for actuating the crank means,

whereby the contactor means is normally free to rotate relative to the contact board in spaced relationship thereto and whereby energization of thesaid solenoid means actuates the crank means for deflecting the contact-or means.

2. A step switch contactor assembly for use in coin responsive vending equipment comprising:

a frame; a shaft journaled for rotation relative to the frame;

use with coin responsive vending equipment having a a credit indicating wheel afiixed to the shaft for rotation therewith;

a ratchet Wheel affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith;

escapement pawl means associated with the ratchet wheel for normally impeding the rotation thereof and for allowing a predetermined incremental rotation thereof upon actuation;

coin responsive means for actuating the escapement pawl means;

a contact board affixed to the frame and having electrical lead means thereon;

contactor means aflixed to the credit indicating wheel for rotation therewith and normally retained in spaced relationship to' the contact board;

crank means carried by the credit indicating wheel for deflecting the contactor means upon actuation into engagement with the contact board; and

solenoid actuated means for actuating the crank means,

whereby the contactor means is free to rotate relative to the contact board without touching the board until energization of the solenoid actuated means causes the crank means to deflect the contactor means into engagement with the contact board.

3. Apparatus of the character described adapted for use with coin responsive vending equipment comprising:

a rotatable credit indicating wheel, the angular position of which is determined by the value of deposited coins;

a contact board having electrical lead means thereon;

contactor means aflixed to the said credit indicating wheel for rotation therewith and normally retained in spaced relationship to the contact board for free rotation in response to rotation of the credit indicating member;

crank means for deflecting the contactor means upon actuation into engagement with the electrical lead means of the contact board; and

solenoid means for actuating the crank means.

4. A step switch contactor assembly for use in coin responsive vending equipment comprising:

aframe;

a shaft journaled for rotation relative to the frame;

a credit indicating wheel afiixed to the shaft for rotation therewith;

a ratchet wheel afiixed to the shaft for rotation therewith; i

escapement pawl means associated with the ratchet wheel for normally impeding the rotation thereof and for allowing a predetermined increment of rotation thereof upon actuation;

coin responsive means for actuating the escapement pawl means;

a contact board aflixed to the frame and having electrical leads thereupon;

a contactor aflixed to the credit wheel for rotation therewith and normally retained in spaced relation to the contact board, the said contactor having a series of extending contact fingers which are normally spaced from but are adapted to engage the electrical leads of the contact board;

a crank pivotally carried by the credit wheel and adapted to engage the contactor so as to deflect the contactor into intimate engagement with the contact board; and

solenoid actuated lever means for pivoting the crank into engagement with the contactor,

whereby the contactor is ordinarily positioned for free space rotation relative to the contact board and whereby energization of the solenoid actuated lever means causes the crank to pivot and thereby to deflect the contactor into engagement with the contact board.

5. Apparatus of the character described adapted for 3,249,? 18 r 7 8 rotatable credit indicating wheel, the angular position of of whi h i determined by the value of deposited which is determined by the value of deposited coins, and coins; which comprises:

a contact board having electrical leads thereon; a contactor aifixed to the credit wheel for rotation a contact board having electrical lead means thereon; contactor means aflixed to the said credit indicating wheel for rotation therewith and normally retained therewith and normally retained in spaced relationin spaced relationship to the contact board for free ship to the contact board, the said contactor having rotation in response to rotation of the credit indicata series of extending contact fingers which are noring wheel; mally spaced from but are adapted to engage the crank means pivotally carried by the said credit inelectrical leads of the contact board; 10 dicating wheel for deflecting the contactor means a slot in the said credit wheel and a resilient tab aflixed upon actuation into engagement with the electrical to the credit wheel and extending partially over the lead means of the contact board; and slot; solenoid means for actuating the crank means. a crank having a cylindrical portion which is received in the slot beneath the tab, the said crank being there- References Cited by the Examiner by pivotally carried by the credit wheel; means on said crank adapted to engage the contactor UNITED STATES PATENTS so as to deflect the contactor into intimate engagement with the contact board; and 2248212 7/1941 Alpert 179-16 solenoid actuated lever means for deflecting the crank 2,613,791 10/1952 Tfiman 200105 X into engagement with the contactor, 3,104,299 9/1963 Kociet a1. whereby the contactor is ordinarily positioned for free space rotation relative to the contact board and FOREIGN PATENTS whereby momentary energization of the solenoid actuated lever means causes reciprocable pivoting 544,379 6/1962 France of the crank, thereby to deflect and return the con tactor into and from engagement with the contact board.

6. Apparatus of the character described adapted for use in coin responsive vending equipment comprising:

a rotatable credit indicating wheel, the angular position BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

THOMAS D. MACBLAIN, Assistant Examiner. 

3. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED ADAPTED FOR USE WITH COIN RESPONSIVE VENDING EQUIPMENT COMPRISING: A ROTATABLE CREDIT INDICATING WHEEL, THE ANGULAR POSITION OF WHICH IS DETERMINED BY THE VALUE OF DEPOSITED COINS; A CONTACT BOARD HAVING ELECTRICAL LEAD MEANS THEREON; CONTACTOR MEANS AFFIXED TO THE SAID CREDIT INDICATING WHEEL FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND NORMALLY RETAINED IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO THE CONTACT BOARD FOR FREE ROTATION IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF THE CREDIT INDICATING MEMBER; CRANK MEANS FOR DEFLECTING THE CONTACTOR MEANS UPON ACTUATION INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ELECTRICAL LEAD MEANS OF THE CONTACT BOARD; AND SOLENOID MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE CRANK MEANS. 